Real Estate Donation FAQs
Answers to the questions donors ask most about donating real estate to Real Estate with Causes: what it costs, how the tax side works, what happens after the deed records, and how to start. Every property type also has its own FAQs on its own page.
Getting started
Who is Real Estate with Causes?+
The real property donation program of Giving Center, an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We accept donated real estate in all 50 states.
What is the first step?+
Call (888) 228-7320 or send the form. A specialist reviews the property and tells you plainly whether a donation looks workable.
Will you look at my property even if it has problems?+
Yes. Every property gets a look. Condition, tenants, a mortgage or back taxes change the structure, not whether we review it.
Is there an obligation after I call?+
None. Nothing is binding until you sign the deed.
Do you buy property?+
No. We accept donations. If you need cash from a property, a sale is the right route.
Costs and responsibilities
Are there closing costs?+
No. A donation is not a sale, so there is no escrow and no closing. We prepare and record the deed.
Do I pay for the appraisal?+
Yes. The qualified appraisal is your expense and your choice of appraiser, which is what makes it qualified.
Who pays back taxes?+
Usually the donor, and some counties require them paid before transfer. On properties where the value supports it, we have absorbed them.
Do I have to clean out the property?+
Cleanout is usually the donor’s responsibility, but belongings left behind do not stop a donation, and sometimes we absorb the cost.
Is there a title search fee?+
We rarely pull title. It comes up only in unusual situations.
Taxes and paperwork
Which IRS form reports a real estate donation?+
Form 8283. Gifts over $5,000 use Section B, with a qualified appraisal signed by the appraiser and acknowledged by the charity. Over $500,000 the appraisal itself is attached to the return.
What is the deduction limit?+
Generally 30% of AGI for appreciated long-term property, with a five-year carryforward.
Do I avoid capital gains?+
Generally yes on the appreciation, because a gift is not a sale. A mortgage changes that.
Will you tell me how much I can deduct?+
No charity should. It depends on the appraisal and your tax situation. Ask your advisor.
What documents do I receive?+
Our written acknowledgment and, for gifts over $5,000, a signed Form 8283.
After the donation
When do my costs stop?+
On the day the deed records. Taxes, insurance and liability become ours.
What do you do with the property?+
Most is sold and the net proceeds fund Giving Center programs. Some is held and used directly.
Will I hear if you sell it?+
If we sell within three years, you receive a copy of the Form 8282 we file.
Can I visit the property after donating?+
It is ours after recording, so any visit would be arranged with us like any other owner.
Can I donate another property later?+
Yes. Many donors give more than one property over time.
FAQs by property type
We do not provide tax or legal advice. See IRS Publication 526, Publication 561 and the Form 8283 instructions.